A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 7:14-23
Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” When he got home away from the crowd his disciples questioned him about the parable. He said to them, “Are even you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) “But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him. From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.”
REFLECTION: But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him.
God made everything good. Our intentions, however, may not always be right, may contaminate what we say and do. We can and do offend God.
God made everything for man's benefit. And how do we know what offends God? Have we not the commandments, the Bible, and the Beatitudes?
Our will can spoil God's Divine Plan for creation. Does what we say, do or think please God?
What happens when our ends are not obtained? Vanity, pride, victimhood, impatience and greed surface.
Be not seduced by flattery, the world's opinion of us, our social standing, or if people know who we are. But everything we do should be done in His name to please Him. If we love Jesus, we will attack the defilements of our hearts and therefore win the Father's love. We can't make our home with the Divine if we carry with us evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, or folly.
St Scholastica was the twin sister of St Benedict. They established religious communities within a few miles from each other. Their time spent together were spent talking spiritual matters. They gave themselves totally to God and with the love and kindness from just being together, they were able to share God with so many more brothers and sisters. She is the patron saint of nuns.
God Bless You
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